DiAnna Steele

Make Room for the King

I love Christmas. It is undoubtedly my favorite holiday.

The biggest problem with our secular, gift-giving, party-going approach to Christmas is that there often isn’t purposeful attention devoted to the Christ child. I heard it said recently that if the Innkeeper in Bethlehem had known who he was turning away, he would have gladly given up his own bed. But would he? Would we? Sadly, just as the Innkeeper of Mary & Joseph’s time uttered the words “no room”, so too, we give in to the notion that we are “full”.

Holiday paraphernalia seems to hit retail shelves earlier & earlier each year…am I the only one uncomfortable with Halloween candy corn and peppermint candy canes on display at the same time? Despite this early rush to kick off the Christmas season, we still insist there is just no time…no room for the King. Buried in busyness we allow the trappings of this season to steal our joy and conceal the original message of “Peace on Earth”.

In January 2008 I had an epiphany that we don’t really know what day Jesus was born so why not celebrate Christmas everyday this year? As my act of symbolism, I left my home decorated with Christmas trees, wreaths, nativity scenes, stockings on the mantle, an elaborate village lit up…well, you get the picture. Much to their surprise friends coming to visit were greeted with “Merry Christmas” even in July as the smell of spices wafted through my indoor winter wonderland.

Now in December 2008, with snow blanketing the earth outside my festive Colorado home I taste the warmth of hot cocoa. I recall memories of the past 11 months…the joyful, the painful, the unexpected. For some of us making room for Christ will flow as it has throughout the year. For others, it will be more difficult…in my own life I pray for loved ones in financial crisis, employment uncertainties, a prayer partner facing serious health concerns, a family chair that will be left empty this side of heaven at the Christmas feast.

My heart is heavy even as Christmas music flows from stereo speakers. Quietly the Lord reminds me He inhabits the praise of His people.

If we truly desire to make room for the King this season, we can begin…even in the most painful circumstances…with something as simple as humming, singing, praising. There’s a supernaturalness about praise that clears away heart clutter and leaves an open space. A space where the King may enter in. The more we praise the more room we clear for Him and the more Christ enters in.

Will we leave “baby Jesus” out in the cold stall this year or will we make room for King Jesus to enter in?

“Rejoice, the Lord is King; Your Lord & King adore! Rejoice, give thanks and SING, and triumph evermore! Lift up your heart. Lift up your voice! Rejoice again, I say rejoice! “

{“Rejoice the Lord is King” by Charles Wesley 1707-1788}

Rest in Peace Adam Walsh

It is a parent’s worst nightmare…a child goes missing. Walking home from school, riding a bike from a neighbor’s home, sitting in a parked car while the parent runs a quick errand or in the case of 6 year old Adam Walsh, disappearing in the mall. Over 2000 children are abducted every day in this country & a parent’s soul is ripped to shreds. There are no words more terrifying in the human vocabulary, no matter what language, than the equivalent of “my child is missing”.

In 1981 John Walsh uttered those words and one family’s trauma sent ripple effects throughout society. The story was splashed across headlines. America’s gut wrenched when it was learned that 2 weeks after being reported missing from a mall in Hollywood, FL, little Adam’s head, severed from his body, had been recovered from a canal. Twenty-seven years later the child’s body has still never been located.

For well over two decades the culprit in the Walsh family nightmare remained a mystery. Today, came the news at last that the murder has been solved. A longtime suspect in the case, one who had confessed, then recanted, then confessed and recanted again, was officially identified as the killer.

While the “who” of this case has now been officially solved, the “Why” of it all may never be known. How does anyone explain the kind of pathology that renders someone capable of such a heinous act? What drove Ottis Toole, and thousands of others like him, to take the lives of innocent children?

Clearly, there are no easy answers and Adam’s parents will forever suffer the pain from losing a child in such a tragic manner. Despite the pain, the Walsh family’s “healing process” has affected all of America. It was because of this beautiful little boy with big brown eyes & a freckled nose that thousands of other missing & exploited children’s faces have found their way onto milk cartons & posters & mailers & police databases all across America.

With impassioned advocacy born from agonizing loss, Adam’s father John Walsh mobilized this nation on behalf of missing children everywhere. From the halls of public schools to the chambers of Congress, measures were implemented that galvanized a country to protect it’s children & to find those who went missing. Who hasn’t seen at least one episode or heard of “America’s Most Wanted”? This television program launched by activism and driven by love brought the reality of a parent’s worst nightmare into millions of living rooms and into our hearts.

I have the deepest respect for John Walsh’s crusade to keep America’s eyes open to the plight of missing & exploited children. With the Walsh family today I breathe a long awaited sigh of relief that the murder of Adam Walsh has been solved.

Rest in peace Adam.

The Ultimate Reason

Children say its Christmas gifts and festive, pretty trees.

Merchants think its jackpot time, counting on spending sprees.

Churches stage cantatas and other Christmas shows.

Couples run to smooch underneath the mistletoe.

Schools have “winter festivals”, teachers live for a break.

Airlines look for revenue from family escapes.

HSN shows jewelry, toys & boots & skirts.

Food Network is stirring up cookies & desserts.

Thousands of Santa Clauses with children on their laps.

Hoards of Christmas shoppers lugging bulging sacks.

Carolers are singing out their favorite Christmas songs.

Neighbors’ lights are glowing with deer on their lawns.

Bell ringers, snowball fights, nativity scenes

Does anyone remember what Christmas really means?

Party invitations and cards flood the mail.

Phone lines are jammed with stories to tell.

Snow plows are roaring, pushing ice & snow.

And in the midst of all of this we act like we don’t know

that somewhere back in history, hundreds of years ago

a baby boy was born beneath a bright star’s glow.

His mother was a virgin, his dad a quiet man,

both of them obedient to their Father’s plan.

They rode into Bethlehem and settled in a stall

where Mary gave birth to the Lord of All.

Shepherds & angels worshiped in the cold.

Wise men brought frankincense, myrrh & gold.

Heaven rejoiced while the Sovereign Father cried.

He & Christ alone knew that Jesus came to die.

The world that He was born into was filled with sin & shame.

It was for man’s redemption that the Christ child came.

Of all that we could list for celebrating the season,

God’s love for us despite our sin is the ultimate reason.